The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-05-13

seat beside the Presidents chair. Ex-
Secretary Window and Attorney Gen
| eral McVeagh, of President Garfield s
cabinet, were among the guests pres
ent. At ten minutes past one O'Clock
Marshal Wilson, taking his place on the
stand, said:
| Attention, Ladies and Gentlemen. The
Society of Army of Cumberland with
these distinguished guests are assembled
| here to-day for the purpose of unveiling
the statue of that eminent statesmen and
soldier, James A. Garfield. The exer-
cises will be opened with prayer by Rev.
| DIR. Giesy."
| After the prayer the Marine Band, sur
rounding the monument, struck up the
''Star Spangle Banner" and amid clapp-
ing of hands the American flag envelop-
ing the statue was dropped and the
| great bronze image stood exposed to the
rays of the midday sun. There was a
lull in the proceedings while the artillery
doomed out the national salute. Gen
eral Sheridan then introduced the orator
of the day, Gen. j. Warren Keifer, who
on the part of the Monument Committee
| delivered the address transferring the
statute to General Sheridan. Gen. Sher-
idan then transferred it to President
Cleveland who, in accepting it, spoke as
| follows:
| PRESIDENT CI.EvELANDS ADDRESS.
| FELLOW CITIZENS: In the perform
ance of the duty assigned to me on this
occasion, l hereby accept on behalf of
| the people of the United States, this COM
pleted and beautiful statue. Amid the
| interchange of fraternal greetings be-
| tween the survivors of the Army of the
| Cumberland and their former foes upon
the battlefield, and while the Union
| General and the peoples President
awaited burial, the common grief of
these magnanim Gus soldiers and mourn
| ing citizens found expression in deter
| mination to erect this tribute to Ameri-
| can greatness, and thus to-day in it's
symmetry and beauty, it presents the
| sign of animosities forgotten, an emblem
| of brotherhood redeemed, and a token
of nation restored. Monuments and
statues multiply throughout the land,
| fittingly illustrative of the love and af-
fection of our grateful people and COM
memOrating the brave and patriotic sac
| rifices in war, fame in peaceful pursuits,
or honor in public station.
| But from this day forth there shall
stand at our seat of government this
statue of distinguished citizen who in
his life and services combined all these
things and more which challenge admi-
| ration in the American character-lOving
| tenderness in every domestic relation.
bravery on the field of battle. fame and
| distinction in our halls of legislation and
the highest honor and dignity in the
| Cheif Magistracy of the nation. This
| stately effigy shall not fail to teach
h..l
| can greatness is confined to no condition
nor depe ldent alone for its growth and
| development upon favOral surrounding.
| The genius of our national life beckOns
| to usefulness and honor those in every
sphere and offers the highest pr eferment
to manly ambition and sturdy, honest eff
fo:t chastened and cousecrated by patri-
Otic hopes and aspirations.
| ''As long as this statue stands let it be
proudly remembered that to every
| American citizen the way is open to
| fame and station until he
| Moving from high to higher,
| becomes ON Fortunes crOwning slope
| The pillar of "a peoples hope,
| The centre of II worlds desire.
Nor can we forget that it also teaches
| our people sad and distressing lesson;
| and the thoughtful citizen who views its
| fair proportions cannot fail to recall the
tragedy of death which brought
| grief and mourning to every
| household in the land. But while
American citizenship stands aghast and
affrighted that murder and assassination
should lurk in the midst of a free people
and strike down the head of their gov
ernment, fearless search and discovery
of the origin and hiding place of these
hateful and unnatural things should be
followed by solemn resolve to purge
forever from our political methods and
from the operation of our government,
the perversions and misconceptions which
give birth to passionate and bloody
thoughts.
IF from this hour our admiration for
the bravery and nobility of American
manhood and our faith in the pOssibili
ties and opportunities of American
citizenship be renewed, if an apprecia-
ton of the blessing of a restored union
and love for our government be strength
ened, and if our yatchfulness against
the dangers of a mad chase after partisan
spOils be quickened, the dedication of
this statue to the people of the United
States will not be i'm vain"
During the delivery of his address, the
President was frequently interrupted by
outbursts of applause. He spoke flu
emily in a clear voice, which was audible
to most of the vast crowd that filled the
circle before the stand.
When he had concluded the band
played Hail Columbia" and the Rev.
+. ID. Power. who was pastor of Gen.
Gartields church in this city, pronounced
the benediction. The troops were then
dismissed and the ceremonies came to an
end. Secretaries Endicott and Whit
ney came in during the delivery of the
Grafton. Mrs. Villas, who was also de-
layed, took the seat beside Mrs. Cleve-
land which had been vacated by the
President when he stepped forward to
begin his address.
The Virginia RondhOlders' New Propo-